Have you ever wanted to create your own adventure starring your favorite Disney characters? Do you think about what it would be like if Captain Jack Sparrow met Mike and Sulley? Wouldn’t it be neat to decide “what you would like to do today” with Phineas and Ferb? Well, with Disney Infinity, a new gaming initiative set for release this weekend, you can do just that and a whole lot more!

Image: Disney Infinity promises to be a new way to interact with some of your favorite Disney and Pixar characters.

Disney Infinity will give gamers the chance to create their own stories – worlds, adventures, and more – using the characters we all know and love. According to John Lasseter, Chief Creative Officer at Disney and Pixar, it truly is a unique experience. “I’m so excited about Disney Infinity because it is pure creativity. I love the possibility of what people are going to do with taking our characters from different films and building their own play sets…their own environments…their own worlds,” he said. The game will allow players to design their own mini-games or explore the settings we know from the films.

Image: Disney Infinity in Action

In order to create a game with such possibilities, technology needed to meet the designers’ visions head on. Upgrades were made and a significant amount of testing took place before an original prototype was shown to a group of children during a field study. Additionally, Lasseter played an active role in making sure that older Disney fans – “Disney geeks” like himself as he joked – were satisfied with what they were seeing down to the minor details.

Combining new technology and the art of Disney storytelling, Disney Infinity will allow players to place real world figures – character figurines and special Power Discs – onto a device known as the “Infinity Base.” This will activate original story-driven adventures within the game as the characters are “transported” right onto the screen; gamers can then explore the worlds of Monsters University, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Incredibles, Phineas & Ferb, Cars, Toy Story, and more. Along the way, they can collect more characters as well as vehicles and gadgets from each world and save them to a virtual “Toy Box.” Using the items gamers have gathered, they can then create their own adventures in the Toy Box which allows them to mix and match elements from different environments. Want to team up Lightning McQueen with Perry? Go for it. Battle Captain Barbossa against Jack the Pumpkin King? Do it! The possibilities are endless!

Image: The Disney Infinity Starter Pack will feature a variety of accessories in addition to the game disc.

As time passes, new play sets, Power Discs, and individual character figures will be sold in stores. The original starter pack, which can be used on a variety of platforms including Wii, Wii U, Playstation 3, and XBox 360, will house the game disc, Infinity Base, three play sets (Pirates, Monsters U, and The Incredibles), three character figures, and more; the cost is $74.99 for the pack. Additional accessories will have a variety of prices.

Images: Disney Interactive will continue to release new accessories for the game system over time including new play sets, character figures, and Power Discs.

Although the official launch date for Disney Infinity is August 18, a special release event is being held tomorrow, August 16, at the Walt Disney World Resort. Guests can visit a special gaming booth inside Once Upon a Toy at the Downtown Disney Marketplace to purchase the starter pack before its sold elsewhere. Creators of the game will be on hand to answer questions and share their tips and tricks. The event begins at 4 p.m. and continues until 9 p.m. As a bonus for purchasing the pack at the event, players will each receive a free game piece from Disney Interactive!

Images: Players can design their own mini-games and environments that include elements from TV shows, movies, and even Disney theme parks.

Are you excited about Disney Infinity? I know I am! In the past, Disney video games have been disappointing with the exception of Epic Mickey. However, based on what we have already learned about this new initiative, I can tell that Disney Infinity is going to raise the bar. I love how you can take elements from one world and transport them to another. Seeing some of the screenshots, like those above, has me even more enthusiastic about the game. I can’t wait to try it for myself!

Born and raised in New Jersey, Nicole is an avid Disney fan and frequents both Walt Disney World and Disneyland several times each year. Interests include Walt Disney Imagineering, merchandise, dining, backstage tours, and more. You can also find her on The DIS Unplugged forum on DISBoards.com. Be sure to check out Nicole's other articles here on the DIS Blog and follow her on Twitter @DISNikkiBell for regular updates about all things Disney!